Alliance Wars Season 3 Discussion Thread

Summoners! We've just posted a list of Adjustments coming to Alliance Wars Season 3. Check out the post here. You've probably got questions, so ask away!

Remember, Season 3 starts on July 11th!

UPDATE: Summoners,

As many of you have reported, we are currently experiencing some unexpected hardware and software issues. This is causing many of you to experience limited access to the game, as well as sub par performance in game.

While we continue to investigate the issues and identify solutions, we will be delaying the start of Alliance Wars Season 3.

At this time, we do not have a timeline for when we will be launching Season 3, but want to ensure that we have time to work to resolve any interactions that are causing problems on iOS devices before starting the next competitive season.

We apologize for the delay, and appreciate your patience. We will update you all as soon as we have more information on these issues.

Comments

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DNA3000

deenaps1 wrote: »

Why not leave everything the way it is, but make synergies work and have a "synergy" node in the description as you would global or local. This will add a lot of strategy to the war and another level of complexity while meeting the goal of increasing difficulty, keeping diversity and adding a degree of teamwork in each group.

I'm a little nervous about synergies, because those are not defensively balanced at all.

One comment about my idea (which was more of a point of discussion than anything else) for revamping AW was that it was "overengineered" and it is true that however nice the idea might be, it wouldn't be something the developers could implement in a relatively short period of time: it would likely be a months-long project to accomplish. So I've been thinking about the *simplest* idea that would add diversity to defensive placements and could be implemented immediately. And the best idea I can come up with is weekly defensive buffs.

The current model for AW is a four week season, and two week offseason. Each week there would be a set of node buffs that benefit some defenders and disadvantage others. No champion would become worthless permanently, but they could be less valuable in one particular week. For example suppose that in week one there was a global node that said all tech defenders would get a 25% attack penalty, and all cosmic attackers would get a 25% attack buff. In week two, it would be tech attackers that get the 25% attack buff and mutant defenders that would get the 25% attack penalty. That's a simplified example to illustrate the idea. In each week, some defenders would be better than others in that week, and ditto attackers. But that would change from week to week.

Picking the right buffs/debuffs and the right cycle (you'd want to probably have a four week cycle during the season and a two week separate cycle during the off season) would require some thought, but it wouldn't be difficult to implement. And while this can make defenders that are worthless today worth something tomorrow, it cannot make a defender that is worth something today worthless tomorrow, because the buffs would change week to week. You could make IMIW potentially not worth placing in one week, but no one who ranks him up as a defender would lose all of his value, because he would still be super good in other weeks.

The best way to handle this is to make the buffs get stronger and more complicated with tier, rather like the individual node buffs. But the idea would be to make them strong enough that in the right week even a mediocre defender could be great, and meanwhile bringing the right attack team on the right week would have significant advantages to counter the defense that was placed. This would encourage players to rank up more diverse attackers and defenders, and it would make alliance war fundamentally different from week to week. Ideally, you'd want representatives from every war tier suggesting and testing the buffs, which would take time. But implementing a (set of) global node buffs seems to be a relatively straight forward thing, because such things already exist in the game.

Ab_Infernis

Echoing the comment of many other players, with the changes being made to the overall game play, some players who have spent the last nine months leveling up champions that are now essentially benched because of lack of usability in Alliance War. I understand that those same now less useful overall heroes can still be used for other aspects of game play, but the resources that were spent are now gone forever. Please Kabam, offer rank down tickets to the community to help address this huge change in game play.

Whowasthatmaskedman

Why are people asking for synergy to be activated for War defense? You guys are going to be crying when this happens and Kabam will have what they want.

Northwestbrosef

Kabam Miike wrote: »

ASV27 wrote: »

Kabam Miike wrote: »

ASV27 wrote: »

like the shorter season but the price to complete the maps just quadrupled. No more free fights and harder nodes.

So, with the exception of those Nodes on Challenger and Expert that we mentioned, we haven't made any other nodes harder. The new Nodes are meant to make things more difficult, but will also be visible from the get go, so Attackers are able to bring in champions to specifically counter whatever Champion they see there.

Removing diversity is much more important than the new nodes. There's gonna be 10+ IMIWs and Dorms on every map. I get why you did it, but it just stinks for the players.

I don't think anybody wants to place 10 Dormammu on a Map anymore... The Meta has shifted quite a bit since Diversity was introduced, and some of the former best Defenders have met their match now. Others may seem difficult right now, but Players have already started to find the counters needed for them! This will continue to happen in cycles, because that's just the nature of a game like this!

If I had them, I would place the following champions every single war, regardless of diversity: Medusa, Spider-Man , M.O.D.O.K, Void, DORMAMMU. If everyone in my battlegroup did this, it would ensure that every person on the opposite team would need a Blade, ability accuracy reducer, and a Medusa counter. This is what the game is shifting to right? 100 champions, 10 that you actually use?

Goll3m_1

Northwestbrosef wrote: »

Kabam Miike wrote: »

ASV27 wrote: »

Kabam Miike wrote: »

ASV27 wrote: »

like the shorter season but the price to complete the maps just quadrupled. No more free fights and harder nodes.

So, with the exception of those Nodes on Challenger and Expert that we mentioned, we haven't made any other nodes harder. The new Nodes are meant to make things more difficult, but will also be visible from the get go, so Attackers are able to bring in champions to specifically counter whatever Champion they see there.

Removing diversity is much more important than the new nodes. There's gonna be 10+ IMIWs and Dorms on every map. I get why you did it, but it just stinks for the players.

I don't think anybody wants to place 10 Dormammu on a Map anymore... The Meta has shifted quite a bit since Diversity was introduced, and some of the former best Defenders have met their match now. Others may seem difficult right now, but Players have already started to find the counters needed for them! This will continue to happen in cycles, because that's just the nature of a game like this!

If I had them, I would place the following champions every single war, regardless of diversity: Medusa, Spider-Man , M.O.D.O.K, Void, DORMAMMU. If everyone in my battlegroup did this, it would ensure that every person on the opposite team would need a Blade, ability accuracy reducer, and a Medusa counter. This is what the game is shifting to right? 100 champions, 10 that you actually use?

I completely agree. Not looking forward to fighting the same 5 champs in war over and over again (Already doing this in AQ) but that's what's about to happen. For as much as people are figuring out how to counter Medusa, IMiW, Dorm, etc., they're still a far cry more difficult than Loki, WS, Abom, Electro, Storm, Colossus...and the list goes on and on. There's no incentive to diversify without being 'forced to do so'.

Goll3m_1

Kabam needs a Player's Advisory Board or semi-dedicated Focus groups so that they can get feedback LONG before things escalate like this. A group of players who can sign NDA's and work with them during the ideation/development phases. Representation from multiple Tiers and Perspectives to help ensure the players' perspectives are really being listened to. I've no confidence at this point that any of this feedback ever gets heard...

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sbb75

Sooo does bringing back Diversity make up for 5 more mini bosses? And one with Buffet that is based on inflated health... and im still bringing 3 champs and get less rewards.

Good strategy. Throw out a bunch of unwanted and unpopular changes. Have everyone unite against the worst change.. Then don’t do that 1 bad change and say you love your customers...
Kabam Meta is changing

Muzz

I tried to read through it, but in 30 pages I assume it’s all been said. I guess I’ll just offer my 2 cents. Defensive synergies = Bad idea. Many of the unique synergies are too powerful and could be used to create serious road blocks that would drive us all nuts. Kabam not expecting us to 100% maps every war = Sorry, I don’t believe you actually think that. The rewards are too rare and players are too committed to just give up. It only means more units for the biggest items and boosts, and you know it. I’m sure your devs are under pressure to keep creating new content that drives spending. I’m okay with that. The problem is your devs are completely out of touch with us. Auto block parry? Unavoidable damage? Horrible static drop rates that often result in paying $1000 for nothing. Wait... They might get us excited with the shards, but then you just show us all the champs we want before landing on Hulkbuster. Do you actually think that removing the skill aspect from the game makes it more fun to play? Do you really think it makes us want to buy more FMGC’s for the next champ when we got completely hosed on the last few? Do you really think we’ll stick around and keep supporting you when you do 180° reversal (again) by throwing out months and months of our hardwork? We won’t. There’s so many easy ways to fix this game and make MORE money, but you are either deff or you don’t care that you’re ruining the most successful game you’ve ever had. A game that could continue to feed you fresh new exciting content for years to come. Content players would be happy to spend their money on, but not when we keep getting screwed over. I have spent A LOT of money on this game. I have spent A LOT of time on this game. You clearly don’t appreciate it so I shall move on. You don’t deserve my time and money anymore. Shame shame shame. In the words of Hiimhi, “I’m not having fun anymore, so I just want to say thank you to all you guys who’ve supported me and all my friends. It’s been fun so see ya later.”

Thespus

I think it’s okay to make nodes and maps tougher, I just ask that they consider the players and the pressure to use pots and revives when 29 other people are depending on you. Lower the number of items you can use per war, or cut the cost of those items in half. I’ll continue to buy units and offers and crystals and masteries.... but I will not pay units for war potions war after war. I think the obvious attempt to increase potion usage is more outrageous than the diversity issue was.

Captain_Kandice

I’m just so tired of Kabam increasing the difficulty of this game with all the gameplay issues still in the game. They’ve done nothing to try to offset the cost to players because of all the issues, instead they repeatedly try to take advantage of these issues to raise their profits.

I’ve had to spend so much glory and/or units not because of a mistake I made but because my block failed or my dash back failed or my champ dashed forward instead of back or my special failed or my champ did a heavy attack instead of light attack and so on and so on. Now Kabam wants to add 5 new mini bosses, increasing the difficulty without even increasing the rewards. But hey! Kabam reversed the changes to diversity so we are all now supposed to be grateful and go back to business as usual. Honestly it’s insulting and I think I’m done.

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Jac094

Kabam Miike wrote: »

RehctansBew wrote: »

Sorry your going to need to do a little more than just acknowledging that you were wrong. This movement shouldn’t end here. We need more assurances that future changes are giving a 2 month notice to allow players to adjust and prepare. We are going to need more up front communication and moderation that isn’t rude and abrasive

Hey there,

In regards to your comment about timelines on notice for changes, those are always going to differ depending on what exactly we're referring to. On major changes like this, we definitely want to work on giving you guys more notice, and more context, so that we can have discussions well in advance. But when it comes to minor changes (bug fixes, node updates, etc.), it's a lot harder to give an exact timeline, because development timelines can be very aggressive on a game like ours. That doesn't mean we can't give more general information (Hey guys, we're working on some Node updates for the next season of Alliance Wars, etc.), and then give more specific information as we get closer to the date.

We can't promise an exact timeline that will be able to be applied to every single update and change, but do understand why you would want this, and will work to give you all as much notice as possible!

Still new minibosses are damn unfair.

RJ03

Thespus wrote: »

I think it’s okay to make nodes and maps tougher, I just ask that they consider the players and the pressure to use pots and revives when 29 other people are depending on you. Lower the number of items you can use per war, or cut the cost of those items in half. I’ll continue to buy units and offers and crystals and masteries.... but I will not pay units for war potions war after war. I think the obvious attempt to increase potion usage is more outrageous than the diversity issue was.

I agree... cut of AW potions price, reduce AW item use, or simple just remove at all..
If you make map harder = rewards should be better too!!!

Tensio

So summarizing: you keep diversity but increase difficulty for higher alliances without increasing rewards or decreasing the cost of healths and revives. Seriously people do you think that this is enough?

Fixxx

sbb75 wrote: »

Sooo does bringing back Diversity make up for 5 more mini bosses? And one with Buffet that is based on inflated health... and im still bringing 3 champs and get less rewards.

Good strategy. Throw out a bunch of unwanted and unpopular changes. Have everyone unite against the worst change.. Then don’t do that 1 bad change and say you love your customers...
Kabam Meta is changing

Yes, this is exactly what happened. They threw an inedible feast and simply removed the one we said was the smelliest to show they listen when we pointed it out. Meanwhile, the rest of the vile buffet remains, befouling the air

AlexVanDamme81

@Kabam Miike

You not “ask” if erase diversity is worth. You “announced” Kabam will nerf diversity in wars.
People, in those 2 days, try to fix their rooster for a new season “whitout diversity”.
Now, you changed idea.
And you don’t wanna give us some rank down tickets??? That’s ridiculous and fraudulent.
People aren’t plenty of TA2 or Tb5!
You changing mystic dispersion, you increase the difficult of the map, you left diversity and add again diversity and community must shut up???
Is an offense for us!
“At minimum” you MUST give us some RDT! YOU MUST!
People need to fix their roosters for be able to be competitive in war season!

And, again, no news for Aq! Aq is BORING and senseless from MONTHS!

What you doing??? Veterans players are tired of those monthly micro events for a ridiculous quantity of red fragments or ta2!

Is time to make something more for who feed you! 😡

marcusblue

I think their revenue on alliance war are decreasing due to too many alliances are able to complete 100% war without spending many revive, by increasing the difficulties of the war can make us unable to completely explore war 100% and if any alliance want to win the war, they have to spend, spend and spend, this is their ultimate intention. Revenue first, player last

Sirnoob2

so a few things that could help aw

@DNA said it last time when u guys announces diversity that u should also try to have multiple maps and have them run randomly

personally I think this was a good idea the meta has not change a in a way u guys over at kabam would think if u want to push better diversity then having maps that complement different things would be a good start

also what ever happened to when u deleate commentcoments u would tell the user why

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GreekBeek

For what it's worth, understanding the company needs to make $$ to continue delivering a quality product ....

From a player perspective, spending $$ for AW, or knowing that your opponents can win if they spend enough = game not fun. End of the day, we play the game to have fun. More fun we have, more exciting products/champs your offering, more likely people will ENJOY what they have to spend money or units on.

I like the idea of everyone having a set number of items for each war given to them, and that's it. I get sick wasting units on revives or small health potions at an astronomical value ... not a fun way to spend units.

Spending $$ or units on new champs or rank-up materials, easier pill to swallow. It's more exciting spending on building your team and getting champs you're excited to use than straight-up trying to outspend your competitor in an AW matchup.

Feedback - put more focus around making your profit off new and exciting champs and offers that create fun and excitement. Let the competition be centered around skill and what your alliance has built.

It's a game, games are fun, new champs are fun to get, new champs are fun to rank. Outbidding people with disposable income to win the game is not fun.

Scmex21

We really need a hall of heal event Kabam Miike.. it helps

EhDubb

4 week war = half normal rewards.
2 weeks off in between.
Over the course of a Longer period of time we get significantly less rewards.
Add in to it the new mini bosses and harder nodes, less completion rewards due to more difficult maps and that equals every one of us getting the short end of the stick. But yay, diversity lives on! Don’t be fooled, this still sucks.
I’m not spending a cent on AW.

Tensio

Fixxx wrote: »

sbb75 wrote: »

Sooo does bringing back Diversity make up for 5 more mini bosses? And one with Buffet that is based on inflated health... and im still bringing 3 champs and get less rewards.

Good strategy. Throw out a bunch of unwanted and unpopular changes. Have everyone unite against the worst change.. Then don’t do that 1 bad change and say you love your customers...
Kabam Meta is changing

Yes, this is exactly what happened. They threw an inedible feast and simply removed the one we said was the smelliest to show they listen when we pointed it out. Meanwhile, the rest of the vile buffet remains, befouling the air

Kabam didn't listen the community. Its not all about diversity, They have added a new 5 mini bosses that will make us spend more and for the same rewards? Three options:

1. Remove new buffs
2. Cut by half the price of healths and revives
3. Increase rewards

If they will earn more money, at least give the player base better rewards.

Zuko_ILC

marcusblue wrote: »

I think their revenue on alliance war are decreasing due to too many alliances are able to complete 100% war without spending many revive, by increasing the difficulties of the war can make us unable to completely explore war 100% and if any alliance want to win the war, they have to spend, spend and spend, this is their ultimate intention. Revenue first, player last

The answer to that is to release more rank up materials, increase rates on crystal drops for features and to increase 6* shards.

The game becomes more balanced the more top ranked defenders there are. Instead of trying to make a T2a worth $500 they should be giving us faster schedules to rank defensive players if they want to increase revenues in AW.

RJ03

Three options:

1. Remove new buffs
2. Cut by half the price of healths and revives
3. Increase rewards

Brainimpacter

That they think its about diversity and reinstating it will calm people down, proves how much out of touch the decision makers are with the community, this has be bubbling for a while, AW changes just happen to be the point where people have had enough, It is just one of many decisions that led to the uproar.
Nerfing champs "accidently" and not fixing them, being lenient with Whales that are piloting, colluding and cheating which affects every other alliance playing legit, introducing way OP defenders for the purpose of just making people spend, these are a few other things that people are mad about that have all happened in the last month or two.

It just seems like all recent decisions have been made for the sole purpose to make money and no thought has been put into the players enjoyment of the game, which should be the number one priority because if people are enjoying it they are more likely to use real money to enhance their enjoyment even further

Animejay70

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Hey everybody,

We've just posted an update to our plans for Alliance Wars Season 3 here: http://forums.playcontestofchampions.com/en/discussion/77579/alliance-wars-season-3-an-update/

Thank you all for all the feedback you gave us, as well as your patience today as we worked to get this together for you.

you still have increased difficulty with more mini bosses and haven't adjusted rewards!

How can you guys be so stupid?